Knowledge needs for palm trees' farmers in Sharkia and Giza governorates
Abstract: Horticultural crops compose a major production sector of the Egyptian Agricultural production. That includes more than 5,460913 million palm trees widespread throughout various agricultural locations from the Mediterenian sea coast in the north to Sudan boarder in the south. Many varities of date exist in Egypt, but most of the famous varities and kinds exist in special locations and not in all locations due to weather factors.
In spite of the economic importance of this crop, the number of its trees decreased from 12 million trees in 1907 till it reaches rpresently about half of this number. These trees need both agricultural research and extension efforts for improving the productivity of this crop from only 53.3 Kgms/tree to the rate which could be realized ranging from 71 to 105 Kgms/tree according to the different kinds and varities.
This study aims at determining level of knoweledge needs for palm trees' farmers related to technical recommendations for cultivating and producing palm trees, and studying problems facing their production, then putting indicators as guide lines for planning an extension program for improving the productivity of this product.
This research was carried on in Sharkia and Giza governorates which are considered the locations where cultivation of semidry and wet dates varieties are concentrated, also the two villages of El Shernbab at Giza governorate and al-Korein at Sharkia governorate were chosen according to the same standard. The total number of the research's sample amounted to 118 of interviewees (Palm trees' farmers) out of them were 51- and 67 interviewees randomly chosen amounting to 10 percent of total palm trees farmers in El Shenbab and al-Korein villages respectively. Data were collected by personal interview questionnaire, then collected data are treated quantitatively. Tables of numerical surveys, percentages and relative coincidence coefficient were the statistical tools and criteria utilized in analysing the collected data. The results revealed the following three major points : There is a high need for technical recommendations related to (3)agricultural processes which were fertilization, thinning fruits and pest control. There is a moderate need for knowledge related to (4) agricultural processes which were, cultivation, irrigation, Fruiting and curoing, besides one agricultural process only having low technical knowledge needs which is cutting (shortening) trees. There is no significant difference between the interviewees' know-ledge needs related to technical recommendations, of cultivating and producing palm trees in the two studied locations except for only one agricultural process which was fruiting where the level of knowledge need was moderate in El Shenbab village, but low in Al-Korein village. There were three problems facing palm trees production in the two locations of the study which were : lack of skilled agricultural labourers, their high wages and lack of stems. In the light of these previous results, (6) indicators were set up to be as guidelines helping in planning an extension program for developing the productivity of this crop.
Publication year 1992
Pages 26
Availability location Agricultural Extension And Rural Development Research Institute Library – agricultural Research Center – 8, Cairo University St., - Egypt
Availability number 173
Organization Name
Country Egypt
City Giza
Publisher Name: Agricultural Research Centre – Egypt
serial title Bulletin of Agricultural Extension and Rural development Research Institute
Department Extension Programs Research Department
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Extension
Proposed Agrovoc extension needs;
Publication Type Journal
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